A Day in NeLeeGwee

Today, February 10, we will walk to NeLeeGwee. I am so excited to go, because it seems so long since we have been there. Our backpacks are a little heavier than usual because there are over 30 children in this village and many are always sick.

I am so blessed because Tucker grabs all the heaviest bags and places them in his large back pack. I stuff my bag full, then, while I am doing something else, BletJaw always takes the heavy bags out of my pack and only gives me the light things! Aren’t they wonderful!! No wonder I am full of life and feeling great at the end of the day!

Our walk to NeLeeGwee is easier than usual. The scary bridge that we used to balance across on one slim log, is now a regular solid bridge! The place on the side of the mountain that used to barely be a path, where you could hardly place one foot in front of another because you would slide down the mountain sideways, has now been dug out and there is a solid path! Even the weather is delightful with a cool breeze under deep blue sky! I fairly skip down the pathway.

Entering the dark jungle

The children greet us as we enter the village

The big pig also greets us.

This old lady is too tired to greet us.

She lives just across the mud and filth, from Nawje’s house

NawJe greets us with her beautiful smile

You remember NawJe. She is the one we took to MeDuGlow who aborted her 4 month old fetus in the front seat of our truck, and almost died of hypovolemia, (Too much blood loss). Because she knows we saved her life, she is so appreciative of us that she cannot show us enough gratitude and kindness. She wants us to come to her house to eat after we treat the patients.

The houses in NeLeeGwee are in poor repair, because this village is kind of like the opium capital of our mountain villages.

They did not make PeeEu a new house, but they did give her a new floor – big improvement

We enter ShePaw’s house

Complete with chicken in the dishwashing area

ShePaw has just had another baby, so now her total is 7 children!

The Karen children and young women often like to put a homemade clay compound on their faces

They think it is beautiful. I have been here so long that I think it is beautiful too! Of course I think everyone is beautiful here. It is clay so it must be good for the skin

The children immediately converge – they love us – we love them!

Today we have a special surprise for each one of them! Oh what fun!

This little one was too shy to join the group. She got hers outside

The adorable little twins came in later

Thirty three patients were seen on this day. It always racks my brain to figure out the best way to treat some of the complaints like:

“My brains are rotting out.”

“My blood is all messed up. It is going around in circles and then I pass out.”

“My body is all out of medicine.”

“I need medicine to gain weight.”

“I fell off an elephant 10 years ago and hurt my foot. Now that is making my back, neck and shoulders heavy.”

So many strange things, but pretty much everything is from not drinking water, poor hygiene, and poor nutrition.

This small boy has an eye infection. He is patiently waiting for the eye ointment to stop hurting

This lady’s baby is one and a half years old, but it looks more like 5 months old. It has many health problems.

This poor old lady laughs as she tells us she is 200 years old. Her complaint? She hurts all over, all the time

ShePaw’s Mother cooks our food. Today we have eggs, noodles and greens. This is way more than usual. We must be careful and try not to eat too much without offending them, because, remember we are also invited to eat with NawJe and her family

Our worship time is very short this time. The attention span is not very long and distractions are many. Just as we pray the dogs under the house start to fight. It is so loud we have to wait. This is the devil’s method – it happens a lot

NawJe cooked us the biggest most beautiful meal that we have ever eaten in the villages. Greens, eggs, cabbage and eggs, and chili paste. She gave all she possibly could to show her appreciation. Spoons, plates bowels – everything!

She also gave me a beautiful knee, (Skirt) that she had woven, saying: “I want to do more but this is all I can give.” I see the love of Jesus in her, as she showers us with gifts of appreciation. The Lord will remember these precious jewels as His own when He comes. He says: “I will spare them!” See Malachi 3:17